Came here for lunch. The atmosphere is wonderful despite being in a dumpy avenue, French expats and tourists dine here as well as the more tasteful of American tourists and locals.
It was my first time so perhaps I was as cold as the service team. But they were cold in a clinical sort of way, and quite attentive. This isn't the Louis XV but it was fine. The blond woman who waited on me is so poised and first class. So kudos to her. I ate in the wine bar area despite the beautiful dining room, I think the true experience of a brasserie is dining near a window or outside if you are dining alone even better if you were allowed to smoke (although this is no longer tres chic in France). Later in the year they have such outdoor options for dining but the wonderful wine bar area is stylishly adorned and shows a great selection of liquor and wine.
THE MEAL: Sommelier was not in for lunch. Not a big surprise. I should have given opportunity to the service staff to recommend but I had been eyeing up the Pierre Peters before I came to the restaurant. For lunch the prix fixe was only $45. So I grabbed this beside the famous Pate en Croute. This came out with a trout tartare on crunchy greens and a I believe a kind of citrus gastrique. With the champagne, this was so harmonious. The Pate en Croute on the other hand is incomparable to that produced for the Parisian Benoit. It is quite obvious that steps were skipped in making the Pate en Croute as the aspic did not line the entire edge of the pastry and fell apart too easily. It was okay though. The tartare was the most interesting course of the meal and was certainly elevated by Champagne.
MAIN COURSE: Stuffed chicken with salsify and a savory sauce. The chicken was not perfectly cooked but eating a bite of salsify and a bite of the chicken with the sauce was very good. The by-the-glass here has a nice Pommard pinot noir I would have liked to try with this dish and once again I wish I would have been able to order wine with this meal and let the wait staff make a recommendation but sadly I had business in the city. Overall, the dish is traditional but the chicken, which should be the feature here, was not well-sourced or cooked in such a way that didn't show its quality if so. That being said it was better than anything you'll find around Fifth Ave and I just love salsify.
DESSERT: A passion fruit pannacotta showing off the chef's Italian roots. This was quite delicious and memorable. Nouvo cuisine moreso than traditional style and perhaps that is where this chef shines. I missed out on the rum baba but maybe next time. There was a Madeline cookie freshly baked to close things out.
Any restaurant will fetch a series of complaints. This one is certainly a New York-take on the Parisian Benoit. I don't get the sense that Alain Ducasse has neglected it though. All in all, I'd go again in a heartbeat but I think I'd trust the service people more for honest recommendations to avoid some of the more mediocre dishes.
Cheers!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Gabriel Dias
Fantastic! I'm a fan of Alain Ducasse's cuisine and have tried his restaurants in Paris. Once in New York, it was great to know that there is a Benoit branch. The atmosphere is very charming and it really felt like I was in Paris. The food is delicious and you can order wine pairings. I also want to highlight the service. A great option for a romantic dinner!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aria Schulz
Service is great, but they have white-washed the dining room, which cheapens the ambiance & atmosphere. It used to feel dark , cavernous & cozy. Now it has the feel of a cheap 80s cafeteria or diner. Also the food is waaay oversalted. It seems like they are covering up the bad quality of their ingredients with salt. If you need low sodium food, be sure to mention it at the beginning, otherwise your blood pressure and thirst receptors will be unhappy. Why do they have to add so much salt, I was genuinely taken aback by the saltiness! Everything from butter, to bread, to vegetables, to mushrooms, to meat was extremely salty, and didn''t taste fresh. For how pricy the place is, I was disappointed that the food tasted like airplane meal and looked even sadder. The duck breast was overcooked when I asked for reare, too salty and thin - I've had way plumper duck in Chinatown. The vegetables too salty. The salad too oily - you could taste the cheap canola /rapessed oil. . The fries tasted like cotton, instead of crispy. The beef tartare tasted like vomit. The butter tasted not like creamy cultured French butter, but the dense cheap plain slab from D'Agostinos. The berad didn't seem fresh. The only plus point is the service. There are better French restaurants even in this section of midtown. Life is too short for mediocre tasting French food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
Herbert Pierce
The service by the busboys were incredible, however our waitress we waited long periods of time and the waitress did not explain the dishes until I asked the fish was ok however the French onion soup was the best I’ve ever had if you have an opportunity I highly recommend that for one of your dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Onion Soup Gratinée
Josh M
I’m back to edit my review. Excellent French cuisine! This is the only place I come to when I want a true French meal. There’s a real feel of being in a high-end Parisian brasserie when you walk into the restaurant. The menu has the delights you expect like escargot, foie gras, or the onion soup gratinée, which is incredibly satisfying. The front bar/cafe area is luxurious and yet simple, and perfect for a drink and a small bite. I’m disappointed to find that service has degraded. Starting with the host who never smiled, didn’t offer to take coats, and just plopped our menus down on the table. No finesse. Next, our waiter, who was polite enough, but also didn’t smile once til the end of the meal practically. Then, the busboys who were constantly interrupting to ask to remove plates, which has become an annoying standard in American dining, but should have no place at this restaurant that is all about French custom and atmosphere, not to mention it’s more of a fine dining establishment. I was also disappointed to see there weren’t any French speaking staff, but that’s a different story. I hope the standard of service is restored moving forward. In a place like this, you don’t expect good service, you expect excellent service. That’s what I’ve come to expect when I come here.
Excellent lunch experience, was not too full when walking in. Service was efficient throughout. Food is the star here and had the most amazing roast chicken and roast duck mains. The duck was medium rare and the skin had a good crisp to it. The chicken was next level, not dry, flavorful, and also with crispy skin. I ordered some root vegetables as well to accompany, but the beets served with the duck and the fries with the chicken were plenty sufficient. The meal also started with a small cheese puff then and a slice of crusty bread, both quite good. There is an extensive, high quality choice of wines by the glass, so also had a wonderful Chardonnay with lunch. I look forward to returning again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Duck, Roast Chicken
Adam Perfitt
We booked our reservation the day before the meal, but had trouble getting across town thanks to public transport and so ended up being late, not by much but enough to be a bit panicky and slightly stressed by the time we arrived. The restaurant was almost empty and the staff didnt seem overly bothered by our tardiness so we had no problem getting our table.
An almost empty restaurant and air con blasting out cold air meant the restaurant was cold, uncomfortably cold. My wife had to keep her coat on throughout the meal.
The menu seemed a bit Italian for my liking 2
Susan G
Food and service exceptional at Benoit, so reminiscent of the great bistros in Paris. A favorite whenever we are in NYC.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Onion Soup Gratinée
Max
Just so so
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Roger R
Just finished brunch. Service was slow in the bar and it was not busy. I ordered coffee, it was warm at best. Eggs Benedict and it was warm as well. The toast that it was served on nothing special. If I went back it wouldn’t be for brunch.
Enjoyed a lovely dinner at Benoit last December. We luckily arrived after 9 pm. At first the restaurant was packed and rather noisy, but soon it began to clear out and was much quieter. The food was delicious, and the quenelles, cassoulet, and soufflé were standouts. Vincent, our server, was very friendly, helpful, and excellent in every respect. One of the best French restaurants in midtown, and one of the most reasonably priced.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sam Oldak
Went for Valentine's. Most dishes were not hot. Waited a long time after ordering a bottle of wine before it was poured.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
The Ortus Club
Whenever we host an Ortus Club roundtable in New York, Benoit is always our top choice! The exceptional food, ambiance, and service make every experience unforgettable.
For our recent roundtable with 18 guests, we reserved the Saint Martin Room, creating the perfect setting for both intimacy and networking.
Amy Lee
Outstanding! How did my husband & I not know about this fabulous restaurant with amazing food. We tasted their cassoulet at the famous D’Artagnan Cassoulet War (they won for traditional favorite) and right away decided to book a few days later for my birthday. Culinary excellence in every way.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
M. H.
A modern bistro by the recognized Alain Ducasse offers a piece of France in New York. Traditional and iconic French cuisine specialties as Escargots, Onion Soup, Duck Confit and Apple Tarte Tatin perfectly prepared. The wine list offers a great selection of choices. Service is impeccable and the atmosphere is refined. Highly recommended!
Came here for lunch. The atmosphere is wonderful despite being in a dumpy avenue, French expats and tourists dine here as well as the more tasteful of American tourists and locals.
It was my first time so perhaps I was as cold as the service team. But they were cold in a clinical sort of way, and quite attentive. This isn't the Louis XV but it was fine. The blond woman who waited on me is so poised and first class. So kudos to her. I ate in the wine bar area despite the beautiful dining room, I think the true experience of a brasserie is dining near a window or outside if you are dining alone even better if you were allowed to smoke (although this is no longer tres chic in France). Later in the year they have such outdoor options for dining but the wonderful wine bar area is stylishly adorned and shows a great selection of liquor and wine.
THE MEAL: Sommelier was not in for lunch. Not a big surprise. I should have given opportunity to the service staff to recommend but I had been eyeing up the Pierre Peters before I came to the restaurant. For lunch the prix fixe was only $45. So I grabbed this beside the famous Pate en Croute. This came out with a trout tartare on crunchy greens and a I believe a kind of citrus gastrique. With the champagne, this was so harmonious. The Pate en Croute on the other hand is incomparable to that produced for the Parisian Benoit. It is quite obvious that steps were skipped in making the Pate en Croute as the aspic did not line the entire edge of the pastry and fell apart too easily. It was okay though. The tartare was the most interesting course of the meal and was certainly elevated by Champagne.
MAIN COURSE: Stuffed chicken with salsify and a savory sauce. The chicken was not perfectly cooked but eating a bite of salsify and a bite of the chicken with the sauce was very good. The by-the-glass here has a nice Pommard pinot noir I would have liked to try with this dish and once again I wish I would have been able to order wine with this meal and let the wait staff make a recommendation but sadly I had business in the city. Overall, the dish is traditional but the chicken, which should be the feature here, was not well-sourced or cooked in such a way that didn't show its quality if so. That being said it was better than anything you'll find around Fifth Ave and I just love salsify.
DESSERT: A passion fruit pannacotta showing off the chef's Italian roots. This was quite delicious and memorable. Nouvo cuisine moreso than traditional style and perhaps that is where this chef shines. I missed out on the rum baba but maybe next time. There was a Madeline cookie freshly baked to close things out.
Any restaurant will fetch a series of complaints. This one is certainly a New York-take on the Parisian Benoit. I don't get the sense that Alain Ducasse has neglected it though. All in all, I'd go again in a heartbeat but I think I'd trust the service people more for honest recommendations to avoid some of the more mediocre dishes.
Cheers!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Fantastic! I'm a fan of Alain Ducasse's cuisine and have tried his restaurants in Paris. Once in New York, it was great to know that there is a Benoit branch. The atmosphere is very charming and it really felt like I was in Paris. The food is delicious and you can order wine pairings. I also want to highlight the service. A great option for a romantic dinner!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service is great, but they have white-washed the dining room, which cheapens the ambiance & atmosphere. It used to feel dark , cavernous & cozy. Now it has the feel of a cheap 80s cafeteria or diner. Also the food is waaay oversalted. It seems like they are covering up the bad quality of their ingredients with salt. If you need low sodium food, be sure to mention it at the beginning, otherwise your blood pressure and thirst receptors will be unhappy. Why do they have to add so much salt, I was genuinely taken aback by the saltiness! Everything from butter, to bread, to vegetables, to mushrooms, to meat was extremely salty, and didn''t taste fresh. For how pricy the place is, I was disappointed that the food tasted like airplane meal and looked even sadder. The duck breast was overcooked when I asked for reare, too salty and thin - I've had way plumper duck in Chinatown. The vegetables too salty. The salad too oily - you could taste the cheap canola /rapessed oil. . The fries tasted like cotton, instead of crispy. The beef tartare tasted like vomit. The butter tasted not like creamy cultured French butter, but the dense cheap plain slab from D'Agostinos. The berad didn't seem fresh. The only plus point is the service. There are better French restaurants even in this section of midtown. Life is too short for mediocre tasting French food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 5
The service by the busboys were incredible, however our waitress we waited long periods of time and the waitress did not explain the dishes until I asked the fish was ok however the French onion soup was the best I’ve ever had if you have an opportunity I highly recommend that for one of your dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Onion Soup Gratinée
I’m back to edit my review. Excellent French cuisine! This is the only place I come to when I want a true French meal. There’s a real feel of being in a high-end Parisian brasserie when you walk into the restaurant. The menu has the delights you expect like escargot, foie gras, or the onion soup gratinée, which is incredibly satisfying. The front bar/cafe area is luxurious and yet simple, and perfect for a drink and a small bite.
I’m disappointed to find that service has degraded. Starting with the host who never smiled, didn’t offer to take coats, and just plopped our menus down on the table. No finesse. Next, our waiter, who was polite enough, but also didn’t smile once til the end of the meal practically. Then, the busboys who were constantly interrupting to ask to remove plates, which has become an annoying standard in American dining, but should have no place at this restaurant that is all about French custom and atmosphere, not to mention it’s more of a fine dining establishment. I was also disappointed to see there weren’t any French speaking staff, but that’s a different story. I hope the standard of service is restored moving forward. In a place like this, you don’t expect good service, you expect excellent service. That’s what I’ve come to expect when I come here.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Onion Soup Gratinée, Roasted Duck
Excellent lunch experience, was not too full when walking in. Service was efficient throughout. Food is the star here and had the most amazing roast chicken and roast duck mains. The duck was medium rare and the skin had a good crisp to it. The chicken was next level, not dry, flavorful, and also with crispy skin. I ordered some root vegetables as well to accompany, but the beets served with the duck and the fries with the chicken were plenty sufficient. The meal also started with a small cheese puff then and a slice of crusty bread, both quite good. There is an extensive, high quality choice of wines by the glass, so also had a wonderful Chardonnay with lunch. I look forward to returning again!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roasted Duck, Roast Chicken
We booked our reservation the day before the meal, but had trouble getting across town thanks to public transport and so ended up being late, not by much but enough to be a bit panicky and slightly stressed by the time we arrived.
The restaurant was almost empty and the staff didnt seem overly bothered by our tardiness so we had no problem getting our table.
An almost empty restaurant and air con blasting out cold air meant the restaurant was cold, uncomfortably cold. My wife had to keep her coat on throughout the meal.
The menu seemed a bit Italian for my liking 2
Food and service exceptional at Benoit, so reminiscent of the great bistros in Paris. A favorite whenever we are in NYC.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Onion Soup Gratinée
Just so so
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Just finished brunch. Service was slow in the bar and it was not busy. I ordered coffee, it was warm at best. Eggs Benedict and it was warm as well. The toast that it was served on nothing special.
If I went back it wouldn’t be for brunch.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
Enjoyed a lovely dinner at Benoit last December. We luckily arrived after 9 pm. At first the restaurant was packed and rather noisy, but soon it began to clear out and was much quieter. The food was delicious, and the quenelles, cassoulet, and soufflé were standouts. Vincent, our server, was very friendly, helpful, and excellent in every respect. One of the best French restaurants in midtown, and one of the most reasonably priced.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Went for Valentine's. Most dishes were not hot. Waited a long time after ordering a bottle of wine before it was poured.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Whenever we host an Ortus Club roundtable in New York, Benoit is always our top choice! The exceptional food, ambiance, and service make every experience unforgettable.
For our recent roundtable with 18 guests, we reserved the Saint Martin Room, creating the perfect setting for both intimacy and networking.
Outstanding! How did my husband & I not know about this fabulous restaurant with amazing food. We tasted their cassoulet at the famous D’Artagnan Cassoulet War (they won for traditional favorite) and right away decided to book a few days later for my birthday. Culinary excellence in every way.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A modern bistro by the recognized Alain Ducasse offers a piece of France in New York. Traditional and iconic French cuisine specialties as Escargots, Onion Soup, Duck Confit and Apple Tarte Tatin perfectly prepared. The wine list offers a great selection of choices. Service is impeccable and the atmosphere is refined. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Escargots, Onion Soup Gratinée, Roasted Duck
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